Evangeline Turns 3 (part 1): St. Louis, the Zoo and Mizzou Homecoming

Last week we celebrated our first little girl's third birthday. Evangeline is growing so tall she is 31.5 lbs and 36 inches tall. She wears size 8 shoes and 3T clothes. She doesn't eat a lot of diverse foods but she gradually is adding food. She can write her own name and knows all her colors. She also knows about 30 words in French. She loves people, and is very helpful. She loves dinosaurs, princesses and super heroes. But most of all she loves her little sister.

At Chesterfield Central Park with James.

Roger and Margery.

Hide and seek in the sculptures.

Her birthday began with a celebration with our friends the McCommis Family who live in St. Louis. We miss them here in Columbia, but try to see them every other month when we head to St. Louis. First we went to a park in Chesterfield, MO for a play date, and then headed back to the McCommis' house. Evangeline and James blew out candles together.

Brenda and I met in our birth class and James and Evangeline are three days apart in age. We also introduced Margery to James's little brother Roger. Roger was born in February he's 8 months old but was early so he am Margery are pretty close in size. Roger loved this. We had a delicious dinner and cupcakes that Kyle, James's daddy made.

All the kiddos rolling on the ground.

The 3-year-olds and their cupcakes.

Playing with James.

Instant Friends.

The Perreault girls and the McCommis boys.

We picked my parents up at the St. Louis Airport and headed to a Starbucks for a little snack before heading to the St. Louis Zoo. Brenda, James and Roger met us for part of our time there. It was Margery's first zoo trip.

St. Louis Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa Wiggins.

Over the bridge, walking to the zoo.

Trying to look for ducks.

Margery and Grandpa.

Margery and Mama.                                                    Our little River Otter.

 Friday Evangeline had cupcakes at school for her birthday. She insisted on wearing her cupcake dress. Grandma and Grandpa took her to ride the carousel at the mall.

Saturday we got up early and all went the University of Missouri Homecoming Parade. Evangeline hung out with her friends Siri and Eliot. We were also joined by some of her friends from La Petite Ecole. The kids loved the parade, as well as the candy, beads and footballs they collected from the people in the parade.

Waiting for the parade.

Margery's first Parade with her daddy. She thought the drums were a little too loud.

Collecting candy in Elsa bags.

Past the Due Date

So I know I would feel differently if her Due Date had not come and gone with no event...but it did. It is October 13th. She is not here yet.

Right now I am thinking how our society makes Due Dates out to date a child as though she were a carton of eggs or a jug of milk. I'm trying really hard not to think about it like that. I'm trying to re-frame the idea of a due date as more of a "guess date." I keep telling myself the longer she has to develop inside the womb the less of a shock she'll go through when she enters the world. 
I know I should be grateful for a happy, easy and healthy pregnancy so far. I should be grateful for more time to prepare for her arrival. I am. But as I have said before I feel overly prepared for her to arrive.
So far this week I've done my best to remain distracted. I'm finishing my T-shirt quilt of ZTA T-shirts from undergrad. I've been studying for the GRE. I made zucchini and pumpkin bread and took loaves to friends and neighbors. I completely used up all of my granulated sugar. I went to an elderly assisted living facility with my neighbor to visit a vivacious older woman named Beth yesterday. This was honestly the highlight of my day.
This week I've been on several walks. Yesterday, I ate my neighbor's homemade salsa with chips,  and an Amy's microwavable Indian food meal.
It has rained the past two days here. The leaves in the trees are turning a cascade of autumn colors, although the rain has brought them down. Greg and I really enjoyed our walk today. A beautiful morning after the rain.
Not sure what today holds but if I get more sugar I can make cupcakes!